Variety of calla lily plant named ‘Denver’

ABSTRACT

‘Denver’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a large, pink and white-colored spathe and a large throat spot that produces 3-25 inflorescences per tuber. The height of the top of an inflorescence above the soil can reach up to 40 cm, and the leaves are dark green with many whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/125,226, having a filing date of Jan. 15, 2015, and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘DENVER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Denver’.

‘Denver’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z020045-422 (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as ‘Garnet Glow’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Denver’ was selected in 2008 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Denver’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Denver’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, pink and white-colored spathe, with the white color of         between White Group RHS 155A to 155B being mostly present on the         inner, lower spathe surface;     -   2. Large throat spot in spathe having a color between Purple         Group RHS N79A and 79A; and     -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Samur’ (unpatented), ‘Samur’ has an upper surface spathe color that varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 68B and 68D, whereas the upper surface spathe color of ‘Denver’ varies between Red Group RHS 50C and Red-Purple Group RHS 60A.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Denver’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selections Z020045-422 and ‘Garnet Glow’.

TABLE 1 ‘Denver’ Similarities Differences Z020045-422 Number of inflorescences Spathe color Leaf color Leaf shape Spathe shape ‘Garnet Glow’ Leaf shape Spathe color Number of inflorescences Spathe shape

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT The Plant

-   Size:     -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—20-45 cm.         -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—8-40 cm.         -   Diameter.—20-60 cm. -   Form: Erect. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber:     -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—3-8 inflorescences.         -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—6-15 inflorescences.         -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—8-25 inflorescences. -   Branches:     -   -   Character.—Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 18,833).         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A and Greyed-Purple             Group RHS 187A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 3-13 cm. Length: 12-25 cm.         -   Number per plant.—15-30.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 139A to 139B. Lower             surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137B.         -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS 139A to             139B.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 143A             to 143B.         -   Surface quality.—Leathery.         -   Petiole.—Length: 7-20 cm. Color: The base is White Group RHS             155A, and the upper part is Green Group RHS 143A to 143B. -   Roots:     -   -   Color.—White.         -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

The Inflorescence and Seeds

-   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from opening to tip): 4-8 cm. Width:             3-7 cm. Height: 5-10 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Red Group RHS 50C and             Red-Purple Group RHS 60A. Lower surface: Varies between             Green Group RHS 143A and 143B.         -   Vein color.—Between Red-Purple Group RHS 58A and 58B.         -   Shape.—Cupped. -   Spadix:     -   -   Size.—Length: 25-45 mm. Diameter: 3-10 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15A and 15B.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Size.—Length: 10-35 cm. Diameter: 6-12 mm.         -   Color.—The upper part is between Green Group RHS 143A and             143B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’             (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS             155A and 155B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15A and 15B.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Pistils.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow-Orange             Group RHS 15C and 15D.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is Yellow-Green Group             RHS 150C, bottom color is from Yellow-Green Group RHS 144D             to Green-White Group RHS 157C. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.         -   Width.—3-6 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.         -   Amount.—Between 1-70.

General

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to     date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date. -   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance. -   Hardiness: Not hardy. -   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in     February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in     The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July. -   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant. -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Denver’ as herein described and illustrated. 